LONGOBARDI 34-36 LEONI VENETI - Piacenza

A converted try on full time from Andrea Zacchia secured the first Italian State of Origin clash for Leoni Veneti, in a game that showcased the improving standard in Italian domestic rugby league.

FIRL coaching consultant and national selector Paul Broadbent was a keen spectator and impressed by both sides. ”I saw two aggressive teams who wanted to win,” he said.  “There were pleasing aspects on both sides but above all I saw the application of the work we had done during the three camps held in Italy over the last few months, which has seen a notable improvement by the players involved.”

The representative match, which FIRL will use as a feature of the Italian schedule from now on, was also a trial to select the best players for October’s World Cup qualifiers and that incentive was clearly a powerful one, with a number of eye-catching physical confrontations. Paluello opened the scoring with a third minute try for the Venetians, Niccolo Fadalti, who kicked six from six, goaling. Longobardi struck straight back with two unconverted tries by Sola and Rossi to lead 8-6 and although centre Berge replied for Leoni they were hit by a devastating ten-minute spell from Longobardi, with three touchdowns from Pavia, Pavoni and winger Montegudo, giving them a 24-12 lead at the interval.

Roberto Quitadamo’s second half opener for Longobardi was then met by two rapid tries from the men from La Serenissima to bring them back to 30-24, Nerri and hooker Nasso crossing. Second rower Sola restored a two score advantage for Longobardi with his second touchdown but the never-say-die Venetians hit back through their man of the match, former France international front rower Jean Christophe Borlin, to make it 34-30 with eight minutes left. Zacchia completing the thrilling comeback in the last minute, diving over the line from a tap penalty, leaving Fadalti to land the winning conversion.

Broadbent, who took up his role in October 2010, continued: “I am going home with a list of players in mind for selection and the squad will be confirmed after the two remaining rounds of the Italian SERIE A.  I am really proud of what the teams achieved.”

The coaches of both teams, Kelly Rolleston and Tiziano Franchini, were similarly enthusiastic about the performance of their players  with both agreeing that Longobardi probably had the edge everywhere except on the scoreboard.

LONGOBARDI
1 Ciurro, 2 Montegudo, 3 Pavoni, 4 Cenerini, 5 Ilinca , 6 Rossi, 7 Quitadamo, 14 Berzieri, 9 Delhoume, 10 Prizzon, 11 Sola, 12 Carra, 13 D. Muyodi, 8 Stead, 15 Covati, 16 Pavia, 17 Monteleone, 18 Robuschi, 19 Muyodi E.

LEONI VENETI
1 Grotti, 2 Valenti, 3 Visentin, 4 Berge, 5 Poumes, 6 Fadalti, 7 Fontana, 8 Borlin, 9 Nasso, 10 Reffo, 11 Paluello 12 Sands, 13 Orfano, 14 Bongani, 15 Zacchia, 16 Neri, 17 Corti, 18 Barzan

Referee: F. Veronese, Touch Judges: D. Veronese e G. Bonatti